Description of the Butler Hospital for the insane

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DESCRIPTION

OF THE

BUTLER HOSPITAL

For the Insane.

PROVIDENCE, R. I.

BY I. RAY, M. D. Superintendent.
[From the Journal of Insanity.]

The "Butler Hospital for the Insane," originated with
the late Nicholas Brown, of Providence R. I., one of
those "merchant princes," who have shed a lustre on the
mercantile character by devoting a liberal portion of the
fruits of their well directed enterprise, to the cause of
learning, and the relief of suffering humanity. In a
codicil to his will, bearing date the third day of May,
1841, he directed that the sum of thirty thousand dollars
should be appropriated towards the establishment of a
hospital for the insane, " where that unhappy class of our
fellow-beings who are, by the visitation of Providence,
deprived of their reason, may find a safe retreat, and be
provided with whatever may be most conducive to their
comfort, and their restoration to a sound mind." This
noble purpose soon met with the requisite support from
Cyrus Butler Esq. of the same city, who contributed
towards it forty thousand dollars, and many others, citi-

A

zens or natives of Rhode Island, whose subscriptions
swelled the amount to one hundred and twenty-seven
thousand dollars, all of which, with the exception of a
few hundred dollars, was collected and paid into the
bank, as early as October, 1845.

With this sum at their disposal, excepting fifty thou-
sand dollars, of which only the interest could be used,
the Trustees commenced their inquiries relative to the
manner in which they could best meet the wishes of the
benefactors of the institution, and supply the peculiar
wants of this community. In the first place, it was con-
cluded that it should be made capable of receiving from
one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty
patients, and of furnishing accommodations varying in
some degree, at least, with the terms of remuneration j
that it should combine the qualities of a public and pri-
vate establishment where the poor should be provided
for in a manner equal to that of our best State institu-
tions, and the rich should receive something like an
equivalent for any compensation they might be required
to make. It was thought, however, that the number of
this latter class who would have occasion to resort to the
hospital from this immediate neighborhood, would be too
small to admit of the necessary arrangements, without
seriously interfering with any wholesome system of clas-
sification, and destroying all architectural proportions
in the building: But it was supposed that if the oppor-
tunity were offered, others of this class out of the State
would seek the benefits of the institution, and thus ma-
terially contribute to defray its expenses. Actuated by
this consideration, the Trustees resolved to erect an
establishment somewhat larger than would be required
By the necessities of Rhode Island alone.

In preparing their plans of building, the Trustees were
desirous of availing themselves of all the modern im-

provements, and not only visited most of the institutions
for the insane in New England, but considered it as well
worth the effort to extend their inquiries beyond our own
country. For this purpose they fortunately engaged the
services of Dr. Bell, Superintendent of the Mc Lean
Asylum, who was peculiarly fitted by his great practical
knowledge of insanity and the insane, and his correct
architectural views, to obtain the information they wished.
With the same liberality and kindness which have
always placed the means of improvement possessed by
that institution, within the reach of the humblest inquirer,
he was permitted by its Trustees to assume this duty, and
in the early part of the year 1S45, he visited the prin-
cipal establishments in Europe, and obtained the plan3
of all the more recently constructed buildings. The
results of his observations, as reported to the Trustees
of the Butler Hospital, were published in this Journal
for July 1S45. Accompanying this report he also sub-
mitted a plan of building published with his report, cal-
culated, in his opinion, to meet all the requirements of
the case, in the best possible manner, and embracing
as far as practicable, all the recent improvements. The
plan, with some unessential modifications, was adopted,
as well as the main featuresof the elevation as suggested
by Dr. Bell. It is my purpose at present to describe our
architectural arrangements only so far as they differ from
those of most similar institutions among us. The rest
will be sufficiently explained by the accompanying plan
and view.

Instead of low and narrow galleries having a range of
sleeping rooms on each side, and imperfectly lighted at
the ends, we have broad, high-storied galleries with
rooms on one side only and windows on the other. The
contrast between the light and cheerful appearance of
the latter, and the narrow, cramped and prison-like aspect

of the other, is striking to every one whose eye is familiar
with both, and the advantage thus gained is well worth
the additional expense of this mode of building. The
perpetual sight of a row of doors with intervening spaces
of dead, white wall, is poorly calculated to relieve the
tedium of confinement, or divert the thoughts into
healthier channels. This disagreeable effect is avoided
when from one side of the corridor, the eye has an unin-
terrupted view of the neighboring country which, if the
location of the establishment has been well selected,
will be a source of perpetual interest to a large portion
of the inmates. Even the many who care little for beau-
tiful prospects, are better pleased with looking out upon
a sheet of water, or a grove, or a village, or a distant
hill, than a monotonous succession of bed-rooms. To
relieve this defect of galleries having a double row of
rooms, patients are sometimes permited to have free
access to their sleeping rooms during the day, in order
that they may enjoy the view from the window, and also
that additional light may be admitted into the galleries.
This practice keeps the rooms in an untidy condition,
and leads to indolent, if not pernicious habits.

In the central galleries, the rooms differ in size, the lar-
ger being intended for private parlors, each communica-
ting with a smaller room to be used for sleeping. This
arrangement is intended for such as wish and are willing
to pay for a couple of spacious and well furnished apart-
ments. Connected with each of these galleries is a com-
mon parlor provided with a grate, and thus affording
what many persons regard as indispensible to domestic
comfort, an open fire.

The position of the rooms for the attendants of the
principal galleries, is one of our architectural arrange-
ments, which is believed to be attended with peculiar
advantages.. This room is usually one of the regular

series, on each side of the corridor, scarcely differing
from any of the rest, and consequently, not designed to
afford the attendants any facility for watching their charge,
or assisting one another. On the contrary, the one least
adapted for these purposes, is that usually chosen. Here,
these rooms are large and well lighted, with ample space
for the effects of the attendants, and the various articles
of furniture and clothing of which they have charge.
Situated at the point where the two galleries meet, and
commanding a view of both, the attendants, when neces-
sarily engaged in their rooms, are able, through the glazed
doors, to observe from the same point what is passing in
both and are more likely to be at hand to assist one
another, than if they were dispersed about each in a
room by himself. Another advantage in this position of
these rooms is, that it permits an easy, unobtrusive super-
vision of the attendants themselves. The attendants'
rooms in the other galleries are as favorably situated as
could be wished, the same kind of supervision not being
so necessary here as in other parts of the house.

The associated dormitories are contiguous to the atten-
dants' rooms, and easily observed from the latter through
the latticed door between them. They are pleasantly
situated, somewhat removed from the noises of the gal-
leries, connected with water-closets, and abundantly
ventilated. Thus far we have experienced all the
benefits peculiar to this class of apartments, with scarce-
ly any of the evils that we apprehended. The timid
and suicidal while sleeping there occasion far less anx-
iety and trouble, than when disposed of in the usual
way. Their quiet is seldom disturbed, and there are
always enough ready and willing to occupy them. They
hold without crowding, six patients each, making twenty-
four together, which with eighty-four single sleeping-
rooms, gives us the power of accommodating one him-

dred and eight patients, without going below the princi-
pal story, nor above the second. The upper stories of
the projections, four in number, form as many large apart-
ments that may be used for associated dormitories, or
made into single rooms, for about thirty more.

In each of the rear galleries is a bathing-room designed
for the violent, sick and feeble, provision being made
for all others in the basement. For this purpose, one
side of a large apartment beneath the associated dormi-
tories, is divided by slight partitions, into three alcoves
as they may be called, in each of which is a tub. A
curtain across the entrance, securesthe necessary degree
of seclusion, and a stove affords the requisite warmth.
The advantages of this arrangement are, that we have the
room they would take up, for other purposes ; we get rid
from the galleries of the dampness, exposure of the per-
son, and other disagreeable accessories to the bathing
operation; and a single attendant can overlook three
persons bathing at once.

The water-closets, instead of being placed in some
obscure corner, obtained perhaps at the expense of some
other room as is too frequently the case, are spacious,
conveniently placed, and lighted directly by a window.
The traps are provided with cleansing pipes, by means
of which obstructions are readily removed.

The lower rear-gallery is designed for violent and
noisy patients. The disposal of this class has always
been regarded as among the most important and difficult
points to be gained in any plan of construction. A com-
mon arrangement is, to provide for them separate small
structures, at a little distance from the main building, in
order that their noise may not disturb the more tranquil
patients. Apart from the greater expense of such an
arrangement there arc other objections which prevented
it from forming a part of the plan of this institution. It

is to be considered that a large proportion of this class
are recent cases in which some new phase of the disease
is often appearing, and which, perhaps, are under medi-
cal treatment ; and that having lost the power of self-
control, they are completely under the control of their
attendants who are often obliged to resort to something
stronger than moral suasion, in order that they may per
form for their charge the most necessary offices. In
short they are disagreeable, perverse, and mischievous in
their dispositions, abusive in their language, incapable of
expressing, or even knowing their wants, or stating their
grievances. If attendants are ever disposed to abuse
their power, to yield to their passions, and indulge in the
use of recriminating language, it is towards this class of
patients. It follows therefore that no part of the house
should be more frequently visited by the officers, or sub-
jected to a stricter surveillance.. But in order that this
may be done, it should be made easy of access, and
equally so by day or night, in fair weather or in foul. It
is obvious, however, that these conditions are not present
when one is obliged to traverse a yard in the open air in
order to reach it, and to equip himself to encounter a
snow-storm or a north-easter. I need not say how often
he would be satisfied with the report of an attendant,
when otherwise he would have seen for himself, and we
can only conjecture how often some new phase of disease,
bodily or mental, which might have been successfully
managed by timely interference, is thus overlooked,
instances of injudicious treatment unobserved, and oppor-
tunities for detecting abuses unimproved.

Another very strong objection to the distant isolation of
violent patients, is the unpleasant impression made upon
their minds by many circumstances that necessarily attend
it. Although violent and noisy, they may be full of ap-
prehensions and suspicions which would be increased to-

the point of agony, by being seized, perhaps in the night,
by persons they do not know, hastily, if not insufficiently
dressed, hurried along in spite of their resistance, and
deposited in a distant building of a still more suspicious
aspect than that they have left. If the passage is made
in the open air, there is in the nighttime the risk of taking
cold on the part of both attendants and patients, and in
the daytime improper exposure and publicity. If the
buildings communicate by an underground passage, then
the patient contracts the notion that he is to be removed
to some dungeon or dark cell, and though they may know
better, many, with that perversity peculiar to insanity,
rejoice to have the slightest ground for complaint.

In determining the arrangements for this class of pa-
tients, the above considerations were allowed to have
great weight ; and it was concluded that the evils here
mentioned would more than counterbalance the trouble
that might arise from having the quiet and refractory
patients in too close proximity to each other. The ad-
vantages alleged in the latter arrangement seemed to be
sure and unquestioned ; its disadvantages uncertain and
trivial. In the plan of separate structures, however,
these conditions are thought to be completely reversed.
By our arrangement, the strong rooms are reached from
the gallery appropriated to the more active forms of dis-
ease, either by passing through an entry, or the
attendants' room. In the day-time the patient may be
transferred without being scarcely aware of any com-
pulsion. In the night the transfer merely amounts to a
change from one room to another in the neighborhood,
without the trouble and delay of dressing, and the
change is effected without producing any of the irritation
which too often occurs, and giving rise to a sense of deg-
radation and punishment.

In the construction of the rooms of violent patients, it

1848] The Butler Hospital for the Insane. 9

has been too often the case, that almost every other quali-
ty has been sacrificed to that of strength, and certainlyit
would be difficult to make anything more like the cells of
ordinary jails. Upon minds distracted by suspicion and
terror, such apartments cannot but produce a most unfa-
vorable impression which may never be obliterated. Aftef
recovery it leads the patient to anticipate with dread any
future residence in the hospital, instead of regarding it as,
otherwise, no doubt, he often would, a desirable haven of*
refuge from the storm of disease.

Our apartments for the violent class are not essentially
different from the rest, consisting of the ordinary gallery
with a range of rooms on one side, and large windows at
the ends. Pains have been taken to divest the rooms as
much as possible, of those forbidding features they some-
times present, and give them the appearance of ordinary
rooms. The floors are laid, as in the usual way, of wood,
and as the warm-air chamber runs directly beneath
them, they are never uncomfortably cold. True, Wood
retains odors longer than stone, and this is certainly a
drawback upon its advantages, as a flooring, over the
latter. The walls are finished as in all other parts of the
house, that is, plastered directly upon the bricks, hydrau-
lic lime being substituted for the ordinary kind. The
preference was given to plastered instead of ceiled walls,
because they are easily washed andrepaired when broken,
while the latter are liable to be hacked, and the joints
and crevices are sure to be made depositories of filth.

These rooms, like the others, have the ordinary door
and window. The former is battened on the inside, and
provided with an aperture for the purpose of inspection,
that is closed by a sliding plate. The windowis furnished
with a stout shutter suspended by cords and weights like
the sashes, which may be raised so as to cover any
portion of the window, or pushed down quite out of sight

B

10 Journal of Insanity. [July,

into the basement below. For greater security the upper
half of the window is guarded by wire netting. By these
means patients to whom the privilege would be suitable
are enabled to enjoy the direct light, and when vacated
in the morning, the rooms can be aired by raising the
window, more rapidly than by the most active forced,
ventilation, and that too without cooling the adjacent
apartments.

In one corner is a seat built into the wall, and in the
other is the close-stool. The latter consists of a conical
iron pan whose apex stands in a hole in the floor to ■
which it is screwed by means of a flange. Thus its
contents are discharged into a soil-pipe that passes along
beneath the floors, in the cellar. They are all trapped,
and the traps provided with cleansing pipes. For addi-
tional security, a leaden plug perforated with holes, is
placed at the bottom of the close-stool, beyond reach of
the patient. The whole is enclosed in strong masonry at
the sides, and a hard-wood seat cover the top. It is
washed out in the following manner. A water-pipe runs
alongin front of the doors, in the hall, just beneath the
floor, and sends a branch to each close-stool, which dis-
charges at the top of the pan in the usual way. At the
point of divison is a stop-cock which is reached by a little
trap-door in the floor, and by means of it the attendant is
enabled to let on the water at pleasure. These contri-
vances I regard as infinitely superior to those ordinarily
used, because they are less noisome and more seemly.
I do not mean to say however, that by this or any other
practicable arrangement, we can get rid of all odors, as
completely as by the common water-closet.

A spacious,, well-lighted, well-furnished hall with
clothes-closet, bathing room, &c, I consider an indispen-
sable part of the arrangements for violent patients. In
their quiet moments they can be permitted,, without any

IS48] The Butler Hospital for the Insane. 11

trouble, to enjoy the liberty of circulating in this hall, and
can as readily be transferred to their rooms when neces-
sary. Such an indulgence contributes much to the relief
of inordinate excitement, and prevents the deteriorating
effects of protracted seclusion.

The principal, if not the only objection, to this proxim-
ity of the strong rooms to the other parts of the house, viz.
that their noise is liable to be heard by other patients, has
not proved a very serious one with us. It willbe seen that
between this and the adjacent gallery is a space a few
feet wide, enclosed by eight-inch walls, and in traversing
these, sounds are so much softened as to give little or no
practical inconvenience. This obstruction to the passage
of sound might have been much increased by giving
these walls the additional thickness of a brick, and by
running up another wall across that end of the hall so as
to enclose a space that would serve for a clothes-closet
or washing-room. The jar produced by pounding and
jumping isperceptible to a considerable distance, but not
sufficiently to disturb the slumbers of any, except per-
haps of those directly overhead, and they are of a class
of demented patients who are not easily disturbed. At
any rate, the evil must be considerably increased, before
we can regard it as counterbalancing all the advantages
which we derive from the present arrangement.

Upon nothing do the health and comfort of the inmates
of an insane hospital more depend, than its system of
warming and ventilation. Unless the temperature of the
apartments is sufficiently high, they are constantly shiver-
ing and complaining. Unless the warmth is equally dis-
tributed, they are disposed to crowd around the registers
for a chance to warm one part of their body while the rest
is uncomfortably cold. Unless frequently changed, the
air becomes loaded with noisome effluvia, disagreeable
to the senses and oppressive to the brain. Our insane

12 Journal of Insanity. [July*

hospitals, as well as other public buildings, have, gener
rally, been very deficient in these essential provisions.
The importance of sufficient and equally diffused warmth,
and thorough ventilation, is universally admitted, but,
until a comparatively recent period, scarcely an atttempt
to accomplish this object has been quite successful. This
has been owing, chiefly, I imagine, to a misapprehension
of some facts in physical science. People have acted
upon the supposition that very hot air mingled in suitable
proportions with cold air would give the temperature
required; and also that the amount of ventilation neces-
sary to comfort is much smaller than it actually is. Ac-
cordingly, where the warming is accomplished by intro-
ducing heated air, the cold air is admitted in very small
quantities into a very small furnace-chamber, there
raised to a temperature perhaps of 7 or 800, and there-
by subjected to a change in its chemical constitution,
which gives it an unpleasant odor, and unfits it for res-
piration. Mistaking the evil for excessive dryness of the
air, resort is had to the evaporation of water in the fur-
nace-chamber, in order to supply the supposed deficiency
of moisture. That the air may be deprived of its mois-
ture by the chemical changes induced by the great heat
of the apparatuses not at all improbable, but the idea
that it may be merely desiccated, is a puerile kind of phi-
losophy. What becomes of the moisture ? It is a child's
answer to say, it is evaporated, for the question recurs,
what becomes of the vapor? The truth is, air is not
deprived of a particle of its moisture by being heated to
any degree short of producing chemical change, and if
thus changed, the evaporation of water is a poor substi-
tute for the evil. And then to make room for this wretch-
ed air which is introduced into the apartments, provision
is made for carrying off the air rendered impure by res-
piration, upon a scale ludicrously inadequate for the pur-

1848] The Butler Hospital for the Insane. 13

poses of ventilation. It is not uncommon to sec an apart-
ment intended to accommodate five hundred persons,
furnished with ventilating flues but little more than ade-
quate for maintaining the purity of the air in a single bed-
room. These deficiencies in warming and ventilating
have been felt and deplored, but most of the attempts to
remedy them have been frustrated, in consequence of
misapplying some principles of physical science.

It may now be considered as an established principle,
that in large buildings designed for accommodating many
persons, the warming and ventilation must be parts of
one general system. The same fresh air which is de-
signed for ventilation, also must be made the medium for
communicating heat to the different apartments. The first
point to be determined, is the amount of ventilation, and
that will depend, of course, on the size of the rooms, and
the number and condition of tlie inmates. The capacity
of the ventilators being decided upon, that of the flues for
the admission of the external air to the furnaces, is easily
determined, for they ought to be in exact relation to each
other. The registers by which the warmed air is admit-
ted into the rooms must have the same aggregate area as
that of the flues by which the cold air is admitted. The
warming apparatus should be capable of warming the
fresh air sufficiently for the comfort of the inmates, but if
this object cannot be obtained without raising the tempe-
rature of the air so high as to burn it, then the deficiency
should be met by warming a larger quantity of air. The
principle is that the requisite temperature should be ob-
tained, not by small quantities of very hot air, but by
large quantities of moderately heated air. Upon this
principle the arrangements for warming and ventilating
the Butler Hospital, as proposed by Dr. Bell, were de-
signed, and none of the variations from his plan, have
been suffered to conflict with it.

14 Journal of Insanity. [July

That gentleman, in his report already referred to, pro-
posed to warm the fresh air by bringing it in contact with
steam-pipes running just beneath the floors in the cellar
from the boiler in the central part of the building to the
extremities of the wings. They were to be enclosed in
a wooden box or flue, with apertures on its under side
for the admission of cold air, and on its upper side for
letting it off" into the flues above. The ventilating flues
were to lead downward into underground drains all of
which were to concentrate in the kitchen chimney which
was to be carried up to a considerable height. An ar-
rangement like this Dr. Bell had observed in the Kent
county asylum at Maidstone, England, and regarded it as
the most successful attempt to obtain a forced ventilation,
at no other cost than the outlay for the fixtures. The
Trustees of this hospital, however, without doubting the
soundness of the principles concerned in the arrangement,
or the utmost success claimed for it in the particular in-
stance, were deterred from adopting it by several consid-
erations. They were of the opinion that some of the
conditions of its application might, possibly be over-
looked in another trial ; that the system of underground
foul-air flues would require a disproportionate amount of
their means ; that steam-pipes were expensive to main-
tain in repair, and somewhat unmanageable and liable to
derangement. They concluded therefore to substitute
furnaces for steam-boiler and pipes, and an upward ven-
tilation into the smoke-chimnies, for the underground flues
and tall chimney. Accordingly three furnace-chambers
were made on each side of the building, one near the
centre, one at the junction of the front and lateral wings,
and a third, at the junction of the lateral and rear wings.
In each chamber are placed two pots for burning anthra-
cite, a fresh-air flue with an area of five square feet dis-
charging intojdie chamber, and a° chimney springing from

1848] The Butler Hospital for the Insane. 15

one of its walls. The pots are lined with soap-stone,
and consequendy never made red hot. The furnace-
chambers communicate together by another chamber four
feet wide and eight feet high, and which, indeed is mere-
ly a continuation of the furnace-chamber. Along the
upper part of this long chamber, run the smoke-pipes,
made of copper, ten inches in diameter, the pipe from
each furnace running to the chimney connected with the
next furnace-chamber. The outer wall of this long
chamber supports the partition-walls between the sleep-
ing-rooms and hall, while the inner wall rises only to the
floor above. Apertures are made in the top of it through
which the warm air escapes into the flues in the partition
wall. Two flues are made in every space between two
sleeping-room doors, one for the lower story with an area
of 96 squase inches, and the other, for the story above just
half the size. Owing to the greater activity of draft, it
was supposed that the latter would convey as much air
as the other. The draft, no doubt, is greater in the longer
column, but it is doubtful whether the proportions which
we have established are the true ones. Any inequalities
however, in the distribution of warm air, may be easily
obviated by means of registers at the openings of the
flues, or by regulating the area of the apertures in the
roof of the air-chamber. The great point is, to have
enough warm air at our command, and then we may regu-
late the distribution of it as we please.

The area of each cold air flue being five square feet,
their aggregate area will be thirty square feet. That of
the warm air are nearly the same. During a high wind,
far more air is forced into the furnace-chambers, than
during a calm, and consequently if enough of warmth
and ventilation is obtained under the latter condition, we
shall have more than enough under the former. To'
meet this case, the cold air flues arc furnished witl*

16 Journal of Insanity. [July>

valves whereby the quantity of air admitted to the fur-
naces can be accurately adjusted Thus the quantity
of warm air carried into the apartments, equalling that
of the cold air admitted to the furnace-chambers, no heat
is lost in consequence of the warm air being delayed at
any point in its passage. Notwithstanding the immense
size of the air-chamber, no heat is imparted to its walls
below the level of the smoke-pipes, because the air, as
fast as it is warmed by coming in contact with the pipes»
ascends into the flues. Below the pipes it is as cold as
it is in any part of the cellar. A smaller air-chamber^
therefore, would answer the purpose equally well, but
could not, I apprehend afford the same facility which this
does for inspecting the pipes, for putting them up and
taking them down.

For the purpose of ventilation, flues are provided in the
outer walls, extending from within a few inches of the
floor to the attic from which the impure air escapes by a
flue made for the purpose, in each chimney, and which
is warmed in some degree by the contiguous smoke-flues.
The upward drught may be still more increased by ma-
king a fire in the flue. The warm air coming into the
apartments near the floor, and the mouth of the ventila-
tors being placed at the same level, the inmates have the
benefit of the warm of both the ascending and descend-
ing currents.

As much air as is discharged into the rooms, much also
go out by the ventilators, and in the winter when a large
quantity of warm air is forced into the building, this is
amply sufficient to preserve the requisite degree of puri-
ty. In summer, however, the fresh air not being warmed,
a much less quantity of it will be discharged into the
house, and then if it be filled to its utmost capacity, a
forced ventilation by means of fires in the chimneys will
be required to maintain the purify of the air, in some

17

parts of the house. Whether the arrangement we have
adopted will be adequate and practicable for this pur-
pose, is somewhat doubtful. The smoke and gas by the
time they have arrived so far, will have parted with the
most of their heat, and consequently, can impart but
little to the foul air flue ; and were it otherwise, the chim-
neys are too short (twelve feet above the roof,) to make
much draft, while the risk incurred by half a dozen fires
in the attic would be a strong inducement to forego their
use. Still, with our high stories, all of which are twelve
feet high, and the large amount of space furnished per
patient, we shall suffer no practical inconvenience, I
apprehend, in any part of the house except the solitaries.
In such rooms, the ventilation in summer must be forced,
in order to obtain a tolerable degree of purity in the air.

The elevation of the building, which was designed by
the architect agreeably to the views expressed by Dr.
Bell in his report, is exceedingly appropriate to the char-
acter of the institution, and satisfactory to the most correct
taste. Sufficient attention has not been given to archi-
tectural expression, in the construction of these, or any
other establishments among us. The present feeling is,
that if the building answers the intended purpose, no
matter how it looks ; or if any element of architectural
beauty is sought for, it is only some fancied correctness of
proportion which, however, may not prevent a very fac-
tory look. In establishments for the insane, it is particu-
larly necessary to have regard to appearances. A long,
lofty expanse of dead wall varied only by a multitude of
windows, is apt to excite disagreeable associations in a
cultivated mind, which it is desirable to avoid. Indeed,
apart from such considerations, there is no reason why a
hospital for the insane should not be a worthy specimen
of art, as well as a church, or a bank. The additional
expense is no reason, because to obtain the effect in ques-

c

18

tion, much additional expense is not necessary. But if ft
were, it would not be allowed to stand in the way of
gratifying a correct public taste did it really exist.
Were the public taste in art as fastidious as that of many
individuals, no person would refuse to double his sub-
scription to the erection of a public building, rather than
be perpetually offended by the sight of an unmeaning,
tasteless pile of materials exciting no intellectual emotion
whatever, except perhaps, that of contempt or disgust at
some trumpery attempt at architectural effect.

In the belief that they should consult the wishes of the
community by whose contributions the institution was
created, the Trustees determined to adopt a chaste, if
not elegant design, though involving a little additional
expense. The different divisions of the edifice are taste-
fully grouped together in the Tudor-Gothic style, assu-
ming a quadrangular form, and the doors,, windows and
other parts present the characteristic features of the same
style. The various bold projections beyond the princi-
pal line of building throw large portions of the latter
into shadow, and thus give to the whole an air of dignity
and grandeur which no portico however costly could
impart. The principal objection to the quadrangular
form is obviated by having a projection in the rear of the
centre, which intercepts the communication between the
wings. In the first and basement stories of this part are
the domestic offices, and in the second is the chapel open
to the roof. The central building and the projections are
of three stories, the rest of two stories, the first two be-
ing twelve feet high, the third ten feet. Their line of
junction is indicated on the outside by a belt formed of
projecting brick. The wall is surmounted by a graceful
cornice made of bricks expressly moulded for the pur-
pose, and on the cornice rests a brick parapet laid in
herring bone form.

19

The windows of the sleeping-rooms, and which of
course look into the courts, are six feet high and two
wide, and glazed with panes twelve inches by six — a
form not unusual for domestic purposes. Those which
light the halls, and which are on the outer face of the
building, are formed of two of these windows brought
together under a common hood moulding, and constitu-
ting, in fact, a single window divided into two lights by
a central mullion. These windows, the labels, jambs
and sills of which are of Connecticut free-stone, with a
large oriel over the principal door-way, contribute much to
the architectural effect of the building. The window-
guard is made of two pieces, one to each sash, and pre-
cisely alike. The vertical divisions of the guard,
instead of following those of the sash throughout, deviate
from the right line towards the top, and form ogee arches,
that have a graceful and pleasing appearance.

The grounds belonging to the hospital consist of about
sixty acres of tillage, and fifty of native woodland, and
embraces a great variety of soil and surface. The build-
ing stands in a clearing on the western bank of the See-
konk river which here widens into an expanse of a mile in
breadth, and permits an extensive view of the country
beyond. In every other direction the eye rests on dense
groves which give to the landscape an air of retirement
and repose exceedingly appropriate to the character of
the establishment. A few rods from the house, but hid
den from sight by the trees, is a magnificent feature of
natural scenery in the shape of a ravine some hundred
rods in length, and varying in depth from twenty to one
hundred feet, and in width from fifty to three hundred feet.
The tallest of forest trees crowd its steep banks, from which
the eye looks down upon a singularly beautiful combina-
tion of running water and grassy glades, clumps of shrub-
bery, and groups of trees embraced by climbing vines.

20

The soil to some distance around the building is sandy,
and affords clean, dry walks at every season of the year,
except when covered by snow. The woods consist of
the red and white pine, the hemlock, red cedar, red,
yellow, white and black oak, chesnut, hickories of seve-
ral species, horn-beam, elm, beech, yellow and white
birch. The undergrowth consists chiefly of the mountain
laurel in magnificent clumps, bear and chincapin oaks,
wild roses, and clematis, while the blueberry, whortle-
berry, and blackberry advance almost to our very doors.

Thus possessing a site combining in a very high de-
gree the necessary qualifications, and an edifice having
all the improvements of the times, we have a hope that
our efforts in this department of benevolence may be fol-
lowed by a satisfactory measure of success.

References to the Plan.

A. A. Reception rooms, B. Doctor's office, C. Steward'*
office, D. D. Common Parlors for patients occupying front
galleries, E. Halls for patients, F. Rooms in which pa-
tients see their friends, G. Dining-room, H. Private parlors,
I. Sleeping rooms, K. Attendant's rooms, L. Associated
dormitories, M. Water-closets, N. Bathing rooms, O. Wash-
rooms, P. Domestics' dining room, [the door into the entry
is accidentally omitted,] &. Matron's store-room, R.
Kitchen, S. Ironing andj.drying room, T. Store room.

Accession no.

Author^' X f S t a ;
Description of ti

Butler Hosp.

RC445
Call no. Ytl+F

1848